Midterm Special: The South Goes Blue and New Zealand First Goes Rogue

Hosted by Phil Goff and Chris Finlayson, Cross Party Lines delivers the special midterm episode they promised on Monday — and by God, did it deliver. Democrats take the Senate 54-46, the House comfortably, and governorships in Texas, Ohio and Iowa. Chris calls it an election of the magnitude of 1958, 1974 and 1994. Phil calls it a clear rejection of Trumpism by middle America. And with two days until New Zealand votes, both men think the lessons couldn’t be more timely. Thanks to our foundational partner, Frank Risk Management. The 100% Kiwi Owned Insurance brokerage. In this episode: * The Senate: six seats flipped, the solid South returns — for the Democrats — North and South Carolina, Kansas, Ohio, Iowa and Maine all fell to the Democrats. Susan Collins — the last Northeastern liberal Republican — is gone, her seat held by Republicans since 1978. South Carolina, unseen as a Democratic seat since Fritz Hollings in the nineties, flipped because Trump imposed an unqualified candidate on the party. Mississippi is still outstanding, decided by 28 votes. Chris’s verdict: this is worse than Watergate for the Republican Party. Phil’s: Nixon at least looks sane by comparison. * The House, the governorships and the gerrymander that backfired — Democrats are well over the majority needed in the House. Texas flips to Democrats for the first time since Ann Richards lost to George W. Bush in 1994. Ohio’s Ramaswamy — who ran an advertisement mocking the governor-elect’s estranged mother — goes down in flames. Iowa goes Democratic in both the Senate and the governorship. The redistricting Trump ordered mid-decade, designed to protect Republican seats in North Carolina, Texas and Florida, has achieved nothing except damaging the Republican Party’s reputation. Chris’s lesson: do not engage in those tactics. They are low, dishonest, corrupt, and the people don’t like it. Phil draws the direct New Zealand parallel: the Mowbray and Brash vote-splitting campaign deserves the same repudiation. * What it means — and what it doesn’t — Phil and Chris are genuinely elated but disciplined about what tonight actually delivers. Democrats control the legislative agenda, confirmations and — most importantly — the power of scrutiny. Sunlight, as Oliver Wendell Holmes said, is the best disinfectant, and there is a treasure trove of barely concealed corruption waiting for congressional committees. But Trump retains executive power, can veto legislation, and the structural problems — redistricting, presidential pardons, Supreme Court packing — won’t be fixed by this result alone. Chris sees it as part of a broader global pattern: Hungary, Serbia, Reform UK under pressure, populism starting to be rejected. Phil is more cautious: the new Jerusalem hasn’t arrived. But middle America has risen up, and that is a beautiful thing. Back home with two days to go: Michael Laws’ comments about his opponent’s appearance are the most damaging thing to happen to New Zealand First in the final stretch of the campaign. Phil notes Stuart Nash was sacked for far less. Peters tried to claim Laws was speaking as a private citizen rather than a candidate, then had to row back. Youth unemployment is at its highest since the Richardson-Bolger era. And the 1-News Varian poll showing ACT and New Zealand First each down two points suggests — Phil hopes — that New Zealanders are reacting against those trying to distort the proportional system, just as Americans reacted against the gerrymander. Phil and Chris will be at RNZ on Saturday night so tune in. Cross Party Lines exists to lift political literacy and create space for calm, good-faith political conversation. Follow us on Spotify, Apple, or wherever you listen to podcasts. 📋 New Zealand votes Saturday 7 November. Two days. Make it count. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit crosspartylines.substack.com